Labour ‘could lose up to 50 seats’ to Greens if new drilling in North Sea approved

A protester holds a message for Andy Burnham during a demonstration in London against drilling in the Rosebank oilfield. Photograph: Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press/Shutterstock

Labour could lose dozens of seats to the Green party if the government allows new drilling in the North Sea, according to internal research shared with the Guardian.

Green party analysis suggests up to 50 Labour MPs, including Andy Burnham’s key ally Louise Haigh, could lose their seats at the next election if the government fails to make urgent climate action a priority or allows new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.